8
Forbid it, Love! "She scarce had spoke,
When Cupid laid a trap;
For, at the chamber door was heard
A soft and gentle rap:
Cried Betty, "who is at the door?"
"Aye tell," quoth Chloe, "true:"
When straight a tender voice replied,
"Dear ma'am I dye for you."
"What's that," she said, "O says Betty,
A man! and die for me!
And can I see the youth expire-
Oh, no! it must not be!
Haste, Betty,—open quick the door:"
'Tis done; and, lo! to view,
A little man with bundle stood,
In sleeves and apron blue.
"Ye Powers!" cried Chloe, "what is this?
What' vision do I see?
Is this the man, oh, mighty Love!—
The man that dies for me?"
"Yes, ma'am; your ladyship is right,"
The figure straight replied;
"And hard for me it would have been
If I had never dyed.
La! ma'am, you must have heard of me.
Although I'm no highflyer;
I live just by at No. 1,
I'm Billy Dip, the dyer
'Twas I ma'am, Betty there employed
To dye your lustering gown;
And I not only dye for you.
But I dye for the whole town."
